Mega Doctor News
South Texas Health System McAllen’s story began in 1919, when it first started providing care to the people of the Rio Grande Valley as McAllen Municipal Hospital. The facility has a rich history of growth and development, starting as McAllen Municipal Hospital, McAllen General Hospital and McAllen Methodist Hospital.
Serving the community, then and now
In 1985, STHS McAllen (then known as McAllen Medical Center) opened a brand-new six-story building – which has grown to eight stories – to better serve the community. Our facility is not the only aspect of STHS McAllen that’s evolved. Over the years, we’ve reached several milestones and expanded our programs to provide advanced healthcare for the Rio Grande Valley.
We’re committed to providing Rio Grande Valley residents with highly regarded services and programs, including:
- Level I Trauma Center
- Comprehensive Stroke Center
- Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedics
- General & Robotic Surgery
- Inpatient & Outpatient Rehabilitation
As we celebrate four decades in our current location, we asked some of the physicians who practice here to reflect on what sets South Texas Health System McAllen apart.
Innovative procedure for hemodialysis patients joins a legacy of “firsts”
We were the first in McAllen and neighboring cities to offer services such as open-heart surgery, one-day cardiac catheterization and magnetic resonance imaging. In spring 2025, led by Daniel McLean, MD, FACS, we became the Valley’s first healthcare facility to complete a new procedure that helps restore central venous access for kidney dialysis patients who require hemodialysis.
Hemodialysis patients often face central vein obstructions caused by vein injury or catheters. But using newly available technology that allows surgeons to access chronically occluded veins, Dr. McLean and his team are giving hope to dialysis patients who are at high risk of running out of vascular access options.
To Dr. McLean, it’s just one of the most recent examples of how STHS McAllen puts patients first – perhaps the most important “first” to achieve, he notes.
“Most of all, I’m proud of this facility’s commitment to putting patients’ needs above all else,” Dr. McLean says. “I’m consistently impressed with our ethics. We are always striving to do the best for our patients.”
The highest level of care for the most critical injuries
Verified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level I Trauma Center, STHS McAllen provides the highest level of care for life-threatening injuries, including 24/7 in-house coverage by general surgeons, prompt availability of specialists and comprehensive care for all aspects of injury, from prevention through rehabilitation.
“This is a huge milestone, as patients do not have to be transferred out of the Rio Grande Valley for trauma care,” says Carlos Palacios, MD, FACS, Trauma Department Medical Director.
As a Level I Trauma Center, STHS McAllen is integral to South Texas Health System’s dedication to delivering emergency care close to home across the Rio Grande Valley. It is a key part of the South Texas Health System Trauma and Critical Care Institute, recognized as the largest integrated trauma and critical care network serving the four-county area.
Dr. Palacios cites the availability of whole blood for trauma patients as a crucial aspect of the program. Studies have found that trauma patients with severe bleeding who receive whole blood experience significantly increased survival rates. *
“The ability to provide whole blood in our ER for the injured patient has been a game changer,” he says. “It’s an honor to be part of a healthcare system that commits the resources necessary to providing first-rate patient care and improving health outcomes for the people of the Rio Grande Valley.”
Impacting community health, from leading-edge technology to health education
Miguel Rodriguez, DO, began practicing at STHS McAllen just over one year ago. “Being part of an organization with such a deep history of providing quality care to our community means a lot to me,” says the Rio Grande Valley native.
Dr. Rodriguez, a general surgeon who specializes in bariatric and robotic surgery, played a central role in the spring 2025 launch of the facility’s Robotic Surgery Program with the introduction of the da Vinci™ 5 (DV5) Robotic Surgical System, the latest in robot-assisted surgical technology from Intuitive® Surgical.
Beyond the opportunity to restore the quality of life for more patients, robotic surgery helps reduce surgical complications, improve safety and shorten recovery times, including length of hospital stays.
“We have completed over 300 cases in eight months. This speaks to our commitment to improving the health of the community,” Dr. Rodriguez says. “STHS McAllen also does a very good job at community outreach. They provide resources to educate our community on topics from diabetes to breast cancer, among others. This creates awareness and prevention.”
Lifesaving care when minutes count
STHS McAllen was the first DNV-GL Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center in the Upper Valley. Recently, the facility received the Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Award for the sixth consecutive year by the American Heart Association® and American Stroke Association®.
The gold award is the highest honor bestowed to facilities by the non-profit organizations in recognition for their proven dedication to guaranteeing all stroke patients have access to best practices and life-saving care for 24 consecutive months or more.
“These distinctions truly underscore our relentless dedication to delivering best-practice, life-saving treatment to every stroke patient,” says Syed Hussain, MD, who has been providing stroke care and neurosurgery at STHS McAllen for decades. “The passion and expertise here truly set the standard for exceptional patient care.”
STHS McAllen is proud to be a trusted partner in our community’s health and wellbeing, from pioneering groundbreaking procedures to expanding access to lifesaving care and investing in advanced technology. We will continue to innovate, educate, and provide compassionate care – because at STHS McAllen, every patient’s health is our highest priority.
Learn more at southtexashealthsystemmcallen.com
*Source: American College of Surgeons
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if robotic surgery is right for you. Physicians are independent practitioners who, with limited exceptions, are not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The System shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
